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CHAPTER SIX

Jay was so confused.

If the guy heading their way wasn’t a Marine, why was he dressed like one?

Wouldn’t the other guys he’d been talking to have something to say about that?

They obviously knew one another. Ryden squeezed him before releasing him, and heat rose to Jay’s cheeks.

Don’t think about the kiss . Don’t think about the kiss .

Damn it, he was thinking about the kiss.

This day had taken such a weird turn. First, he’d volunteered to attend a wedding with Ryden. He still didn’t know what possessed him to do such a thing. Now, he was supposed to pretend to be Ryden’s boyfriend. Like, what even?

Ryden asking him to pretend to be in love with him had caused a flutter in Jay’s stomach, the same flutter that happened to him in Red’s office that day.

He didn’t like it. At all. Jay’s first instinct had been to turn him down flat, but something was going on, and as much as Ryden inspired the urge to scream and throw things, the guy knew what he was doing.

The fake Marine walked into the aisle where they sat, which was still empty. Most guests stood chatting since the ceremony hadn’t started yet. Before he reached them, Ryden stood, so Jay quietly followed his lead.

The guy nodded at Ryden. “Semper Fi.”

“Ooh Rah,” Ryden replied, nodding in response.

“How’s it going, Marine?”

Ryden quirked a smile. “Outstanding.”

Jay looked from one to the other. It was like some secret conversation was happening between them, one that Jay didn’t understand.

Ryden had his guard up because of this guy, and as much as Jay hated to admit it, he trusted Ryden’s instincts, so he was sticking close to Ryden. The guy extended his hand out.

“Martin.”

Ryden took the offered hand and shook it. “Ryden.”

“Good to meet you. I just wanted to check in and see if you needed anything.”

Ryden shook his head. “Nah. I’m good. How do ya know Alex?”

“Through mutual acquaintances,” Martin replied, tilting his head toward the other Marines.

“We meet up once a week to play basketball and have a few beers.” His gaze darted to Jay and back, clearly waiting for an introduction.

With a smile, Ryden turned to Jay but didn’t move out of the way completely, keeping himself between the supposed Marine and Jay.

Was he protecting Jay or trying to keep an eye on Martin?

“This is my boyfriend, Jay.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jay replied, holding out his hand. Martin took it in a firm grip and shook it.

“Pleasure. Well, you let us know if you need anything,” Martin replied.

With another nod, he returned to his acquaintances .

They didn’t bother to hide that they were discussing Ryden, and whatever they said wasn’t good.

What the hell? They didn’t even know Ryden.

Not to mention, he was a fellow Marine. Ryden was right. Something around here was sus.

Jay leaned in and smiled up at Ryden like the loving boyfriend he was supposed to be, seeing as how those guys were paying such close attention to them.

He turned slightly so they couldn’t see his face, in case one of them could read lips.

Some of the guys at the office had learned to do that.

“You think they’re up to something, don’t you? ”

“Absolutely,” Ryden replied, his smile not reaching his eyes. He leaned in slightly and lowered his head like he was having a little moment with his boyfriend. “I want ya to stay close. I don’t trust those guys.”

Jay nodded, but the music started before he could say anything else, and everyone took their seats.

The groom appeared at the flower arch, dashing in his Marine Corps Dress Blues, and the bride was stunning in her lace tulle, mermaid-style wedding dress.

It was a simple yet elegant ceremony, and before he knew it, Ryden was leaning in to whisper.

“That’s my cue. See ya in a minute.” He kissed Jay’s cheek and got up, excusing himself as he left the aisle to take his position.

Ugh, why were Jay’s cheeks hot again? This was so annoying.

It was just a ruse. Probably the uniform.

Who didn’t love a man in uniform? And there was something about those dress blues that just, ungh .

He’s annoying. Remember, he’s annoying. He makes fun of your bow ties, takes your books, and puts fake spiders in your desk drawer.

He’s not handsome or sexy. Why is his shoulder-to-waist ratio so ridiculous?

And since when has his jaw been so stupidly square and rugged, and oh dear goddess Gaga, seriously? Ugh. Focus. Annoying. So annoying.

Ignoring his absurd reaction, Jay watched the Marines line up, four on each side of the aisle. Having worked at Four Kings Security as long as he had, this was hardly his first Marine event.

Since the venue wasn’t a place of worship, the Sword Arch could be held indoors if the bride or groom wished, which they were doing in this case.

Ryden stood at the end of one of the rows, and okay, he looked incredibly handsome.

Fine . He looked freaking sinful. Jay would give him that.

It was hard to believe this was the same man who instigated all manner of annoyances daily. Or at least he had before their truce.

“You must be so proud,” a woman said quietly as she leaned toward Jay from the row behind him.

“Oh, yes,” Jay replied. “He’s…one of a kind.”

“Doesn’t hurt that he’s gorgeous,” she said with a wink.

Next to her, her friend leaned forward. “I hope you don’t mind my asking, but his eyes. Is that from his time in the service?”

Jay nodded. “An accident during a training exercise.” He wouldn’t tell them Ryden was blind in that eye. Although Ryden seemed used to people asking about his eyes, it wasn’t Jay’s place, even as a pretend boyfriend.

“That’s terrible,” the friend said with a sad shake of her head.

She put her hand on his arm and squeezed.

“Well, I’m glad he has a nice young man like yourself to look after him.

They can be so stubborn. Acting like they’re invincible and don’t need anyone or anything, but we know better, don’t we? ”

“Yes,” Jay replied quietly, a knot in his throat.

Knowing Ryden’s history, the words hit him harder than expected.

He remembered what Ryden had been like in the beginning.

Not nearly as confident, boisterous, or playful.

Thinking about it now, he remembered how far Ryden had come since joining Four Kings Security.

Like Mason said, they’d been feuding since the beginning, but the heaviness that had weighed on Ryden’s shoulders at the time, the darkness that seemed to follow him wherever he went, had gone some time ago.

Then one day, in an attempt to fit in, he’d made the hilarious mistake of taking Joker’s bet and strolled into King’s office while he’d been on a call to a client and called him Daddy.

Jay had never seen Ryden move so fast. It had made Jay’s day.

Thankfully, Jay didn’t need to say more as the senior usher took his position at the end of the arch near the doors, facing the two rows of Marines. He gave them the order to draw their swords and then remove them from their scabbards to touch points with the Marine across from them.

Rose petals were thrown at the bride and groom as they moved through the arch. Ryden and the Marine across from him lowered their swords when the married couple reached them at the end of the arch, stopping them in their path.

“Welcome to the Marine Corps family,” the senior usher declared.

The bride and groom kissed, and Ryden patted the bride on the butt with the flat edge of his sword before the Marines were ordered to lift their swords again.

As soon as the married couple was clear, the senior usher ordered the Marines to return their swords to their scabbards. He then dismissed the detail.

Everyone followed the bride and groom outside into the Grand Foyer, and Jay met Ryden so they could do the same.

Was he supposed to take Ryden’s hand? There were very strict rules of what a Marine could and could not do while in their dress blues, even if they were no longer serving.

Jay was far more familiar with Army regulations since he worked for the Kings and Wild Cards, who’d served as Green Berets.

As Ryden’s “boyfriend,” Jay should know what to do. As if reading his thoughts, Ryden held out his left elbow, and Jay took hold of it, allowing himself to be escorted. It was all so surreal.

Outside in the Grand Foyer, everyone was ushered down a hall leading to another large room with a bar on each end and several high tables, including a longer one against the wall with trays of fancy little appetizers. The music started, and guests lined up at the bars for drinks.

Ryden escorted Jay to a table on one side of the room. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Um, I’ll have a mojito. Thank you.”

“I’ll be right back.” Ryden went off to get their drinks, and Jay couldn’t help but watch him go.

Because that’s what a boyfriend would do, right?

Ogle their man as he walked away. Jay was committed to playing his role to perfection.

Was it his fault he was so detail-oriented? It was both a blessing and a curse.

Ryden stood taller than many of the guests at just under six feet. He wasn’t as big or muscular as King, Red, or even Saint, but anyone looking at Ryden could tell he worked out regularly. And then there was that Texas drawl, which Jay supposed some would find sexy.

Considering their history together, Jay had no idea why he kept forgetting Ryden was from the same part of Texas as Mason.

Probably because the two were so different.

Then again, no one was as annoying as Ryden.

The man lived in T-shirts, tactical pants, or shorts.

He had no right to speak about Jay’s ensembles.